Chapter 31: Hunter

There are many reasons I've wanted Lottie in my house and in my bed; hiding out from elf paparazzi was not one of them. Leaving her in the care of my sister barely half an hour after the incident in front of the Ugly Mug was also not on my to-do list. But I have to. Ryder and I are going back into town to find Vincent and/or the photographers and beat a little—perhaps a lot—of sense into them.

Ginger did a quick cursory search online before I left, but none of the photos have appeared yet. Which means either they haven't had the chance to upload them, or Vincent has them. Either way we're going to find out who has them and repossess them.

The fact that strangers can follow people around taking their pictures without their permission and sell them to gossip sites is beyond baffling. Why haven't they outlawed this kind of crap yet? Isn't it an invasion of privacy?

Ryder is just sliding out of his truck when I pull up to Town Hall. We don't know where Vincent is at this moment, so we planned to meet here to see if we could run down his location. Tap into the gossip network and check in with his deputies. Someone's always got an eye out in town.

I haven't seen my brother around much lately, though I suppose that could be my fault. Spending so much time with Lottie, I have been neglecting some—okay, probably all—of my other duties. A male with his mate in his sights and senses doesn't see much beyond until the bond is satisfied. I don't think I've been to my office in multiple days.

Nodding at my brother, we both stride up the steps and into the white brick building. We had intended to visit Ryder's office first to reach out over the radio but we both stop in the main entry that splits to either side. On the left is the mayor's office, and on the right is the sheriff's. Both offices have glass windows leading into them, allowing for an open and welcoming space. Through the windows to my office, I spot a gaggle of men sitting in the lobby chairs. Unfamiliar men, not locals. Most of them elves. Not to mention their stink wafting through the cracks, invading my senses and trying to wash away the lingering scent of Lottie.

Both Ryder and I growl simultaneously, redirecting our path straight to my office. When I enter, none of the men stand, but Levi does, quickly rounding his desk and intercepting us before I reach my office door.

"I was just about to call you. These gentlemen showed up without an appointment and wouldn't reschedule. They insisted on waiting. There's a few already in your office," he adds, his head hanging shamefully for letting people enter my office while I wasn't present.

I grip his shoulder and squeeze, offering him my best semblance of a smile while desperately trying to bite back my growing anger—not at him, but at the others.

I had plans to rearrange Vincent's face, which is best not done with witnesses. Not that I expect repercussions from my actions; no one but his men would care. But the possibility of a human seeing is far greater right in the middle of my office in Town Hall.

Not sparing a second glance at the thugs occupying my lobby, I burst through my office door to find Vincent and, no doubt, his second-in-command, lingering inside. Vincent leans in to closer inspect a family photo hanging on the wall as the other male sits stoically in one of the guest seats, staring straight ahead. I would think he were inept and incompetent were it not for the deer-like ears protruding from his ruddy brown hair, twitching and rotating towards the sound of my loud entrance. A nymph with animal attributes. Higher hearing and reflexes, good for surveillance.

"Is this your lovely sister?" Vincent inquires, pointing to the framed photo. "She is even more delectable than I remember."

Crossing the room to place myself on the opposite side of my desk, a sign of position and power, I stomp my feet to emphasize my displeasure with his unannounced presence. Even though it saves me the trouble of hunting him down, the hunt is the most satisfying part.

"Thank you for saving me the trouble of finding you, Vincent. You may not hear this very often, but you're just the man I wanted to see."

Vincent's smirk grows wicked as he turns from the photo and focuses on me. "I thought you may want to speak with me. Decided it best if I just came to you."

Stepping away from the wall, Vincent takes the vacant seat next to his nymph partner, not at all intimidated by his lower position than me. Comfortable with the power he thinks he holds over me.

Ryder steps to my side, bristling, his shoulders tensing, readying for a fight. I know exactly how he feels.

"All right, well, now that you're here, where are the photos? And the men who took them. I'd like to have a private conversation with them."

"They're of no consequence. They did their job. What really matters now is," the silent partner hands Vincent a cell phone and he leers at the screen, "what I'm going to do with these great candids of her and you canoodling on the sidewalk. I'm sure many people would love to see these and know exactly where and when they were taken. Since her relationship with that pretty boy second-class actor ended months ago, the press will be dying to know who the pop star Alexandria's new beau is."

So, he does know who she really is. I feared as much when she said there were paparazzi here taking her picture. He wouldn't have brought them in unless he knew they would spook Lottie or if they had a purpose. Vincent doesn't do anything without purpose.

"And I suppose you want me to sign over my land to you in exchange for those photos," I bite out in a terse, clipped tone.

What I wouldn't do to sink my jowls into his neck and rip him to shreds right here on the pristine marble floor of my office. Donna would kill me for staining the area rug she so tediously picked out, though. She'd get over it, considering the world would be rid of Vincent.

The pompous elf flashes me his fangs and runs a finger down his pointed ear, the many jeweled earrings glinting in the overhead light.

"And that is why I like you, Hunter. Why I need a man like you in my business. You cut the bullshit and get to the point. You're smart, and you use it."

My hands ball into fists, and I can feel the skin stretch over my knuckles. Feel the shift squirming under my skin readying to fortify my bones and generate the claws needed to shred through flesh and muscle.

This fucker still thinks he can convince me to work for him. Can blackmail me into it. If I can't get those photos from him, he may have some leverage for about two seconds. I'm not concerned with those photos making it online. Ginger will have them removed and permanently deleted in less than five minutes.

My concern is not for our exposure or photos on gossip sites. My concern is for Lottie, for the stress and anxiety she's going through. She's had her life plastered all over the news and social media for years. Believing the old suspicion that once something is on the internet, it's there forever. Not with Ginger and her hacker tech heads. People like them are the only reason we've remained as concealed as we are today. Sure, snippets of things slip through the cracks, but they are usually grainy, blurred photos that can't be verified.

No, my purpose is to ease the suffering of my sweet Nightingale. And if ensuring those photos don't make it to the internet at all is what she needs, then that's what she shall get. I can deal with his demands for my land in other ways.

"Just hand over the photos, and we don't have to escalate this beyond a few unfriendly words."

I make the offer desperately hoping he refuses so I can escalate it beyond words to something involving fists, teeth, and claws.

"Now you know that's not how this works. If you want the photos, you give me what I want, and they disappear. Never to be seen."

He flitters his fingers like a bird flying away in the air. Leaning back in his chair, he believes he's still going to win.

"Not a chance. You stalked, photographed without permission, and threatened Lottie. That's means for vindication. You've crossed the line against one of mine and have no rights here. You're going to hand over the photos and walk away, leave town for good without my land, or I will take action as is my right."

Vincent's chuckle is dark and humorless but amused, not at all taking my threat seriously as one should. A person who's done all that he has should expect full repercussions. He's finally crossed the line, and I'm giving him one chance to leave before I lose control.

"She isn't one of yours. She's a human, not connected to any non-human here. She's not part of your pack and doesn't fall under your jurisdiction as alpha. Nothing I've done is against the human laws. I'm well within my rights to photograph anyone on public property and sell those photos to whomever I please."

My heart drops to the pit of my stomach and sticks in my throat simultaneously. To me, she is already pack. She's mine. I need to protect her; it's my duty as her mate to do so. But we still haven't solidified our bond or married in the human right. She isn't an official resident of Snowberry or a relative to anyone in town.

Fucking fuck.

I can see it the moment he sees my realization at my slip-up. He knows she's important to me, and he knows he is technically within his rights still.

"I tell you what. I'll still give you till next week after your full moon celebration. I'll come to your house with all the proper papers and all you'll have to do is sign. Photos will disappear, me and my guys will back off. You, of course, can remain in your quaint little log cabin out there in the woods, but the rest of the land is mine. And when I call on you for something, you'll answer. Understood?"

I don't answer. I can't. He thinks he's got me on a short leash. For now, I'll let him think that. I have until next Thursday to take action against him. Somewhere, not in the center of town. Somewhere where no one will question the howls and screams.

A thought occurs to me amidst my raging daydream of breaking Vincent's legs. Perhaps I won't have to. If I were to make her mine officially, he would have no rights, and I could take action against him without guilt for breaking our rules. Without fear of retribution from his "employees" and partners. I would be well within my rights.

Clenching my jaw, I allow him to rise and stand. He straightens his cuffs and fingers a strand of inky black hair out of his face like a goddamn runway model.

"Good. Now that we have that cleared up, I'll be seeing you soon. Maybe I'll see that sweet little human of yours even sooner."

My control snaps, and I bolt around my desk at a speed only a shifter possesses. Capturing Vincent in my hands before he has a chance to turn and leave. Shoving him against the wall, I hear a crack, no doubt the drywall behind him or a frame falling to the ground from the force of my strike. I press my forearm against his throat and grip one of his wrists with the other, holding him up just high enough he can only touch the floor with his toes.

I'm sure his partner is behind me attempting to assist. I trust my brother to take care of him, so I don't bother giving him a microsecond of my time.

Vincent laughs, and it pisses me the fuck off. I get closer, bringing my face within inches of his, making sure he hears every syllable.

"I don't care if she's a human and not technically part of my pack. If I see you or one of your men anywhere near her again, I will kill you despite the rules and laws. I will take pleasure in breaking every one of your bones and gnawing on them until they're blunt nubs. Am I understood?"

His dull gray face is starting to turn purple from the pressure on his neck, but his expression of arrogance and gleeful expectation doesn't waver. He also doesn't answer, and I don't release him until I feel Ryder's familiar hand on my shoulder.

Vincent slides down the wall, his knees buckling as he lands unsteadily on his feet. He rubs at his neck and glares at me with the wrath of an avenging god. He can go ahead and try me. I would revel in the opportunity to see which of us would come out victorious in a one-on-one.

No more words are spoken as Vincent and his lackeys leave my office. Making Donna practically clutch her invisible pearls at her chest as they sneer and mumble rude slurs under their breath. Levi uses his desk as a shield until they're gone.

"Good riddance," Donna mutters when they're gone.

"Everything okay, Boss?" Levi asks nervously.

"Yeah. Everything will be."